This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at GSU chapter.

Name: Khaja Mapp

Age: 22

Hometown: Fayetteville, Ga

Class: Senior

Major: Journalism

Instagram: @exclusively_Khaj

Her Campus: Why Georgia State?

Khaja Mapp: “I tell people all of the time that I really don’t know how I ended up at Georgia State. Clark Atlanta was actually my first choice. I am a journalism major and they have a really good broadcasting program there. I went to go tour Clark and I didn’t feel it. I actually went on a self-guided tour with a friend that already attended the school and I wasn’t captivated by it. When I came to Georgia State and did my tour and everything was new. Things had been transformed and there were new additions. I just saw the potential in Georgia State and I saw it was up and coming. I also saw The Commons and I knew Georgia State was it.”

HC: When did you discover your love for acting?

KM: “When I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. I think there was some play. It was some type of singing showcase that we had to do and I really wanted to participate. I think I was a little shy. It was a Christmas play and Mrs. Claus had a bomb solo and I wanted it. So around that time I realized I had a passion for being on the stage. “

HC: What are you involved in on campus?

KM: “Currently, I am a tour guide for the Georgia State Welcome Center, a mentor for Big Brother Big Sister and the Financial Secretary for the Zeta Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.”

HC: What is your favorite organization that you are a part of? Why?

KM: “Of course Delta. It encompasses a lot more than my other organizations. It’s not something that I get paid for; it’s a passion. Anytime you love something you do, you have a great time doing it. Being able to put on programs as well as being able to have the business and social aspect of Delta encompasses everything I enjoy. It is also such a large network of people outside of just my chapter here at Georgia State. “

HC: How have you seen yourself evolve while here at Georgia State?

KM: “I think I’ve always had a solid foundation but I think as I matriculated, I just learned the rules of the game and how to play. A lot of things are political and it’s all about learning how to play the game. Learning what you need to do to be successful in a class or being able to strategically pinpoint things that will help you reach goals. Also, learning how to networking and getting to know that specific person that can help you reach your goal. Being observant is also a big one. Those have definitely been the biggest lessons here at State and they have definitely helped me evolve into the person I am. ”

HC: What is your number one goal you would like to accomplish before you leave Georgia State:

KM: “My goal is more personal of a personal goal. I would like to get signed to an agency here in Atlanta for acting. “

HC: What are your plans after you graduatE?

KM: “I’m not crazy about going into anything that’s in my field of study. I’ve recently discovered some things that I would be happy with in my career field. Journalism is such a broad field and there are so many things you could do with it. I recently started taking a Sports Journalism class with Bob Neil who is a very well known sports journalist. He has exposed us to a lot of different things and jobs in sports journalism. Being exposed to those things has peeked my interest in sports journalism so I would like to discover that avenue. Maybe I could get a job working switchboards and work my way up to a directorship. Marketing and management is also something I want to get into. Overall, whatever I get into, I want to work in entertainment. I don’t have it completely figured out right now but I don’t think that’s a bad thing either.”

HC: What is your favorite memory from college?

KM: “My entire freshman year! It was such a great time! I had no worries or cares besides my grades. That was when I started networking and meeting a lot of great people at Georgia State. A lot of those people I am still good friends with today. I was also able to get my name out there and begin to leave my mark on Georgia State. Freshman year was a time of innocence and “turn up” and we had a great time with it.”

HC: If you could sum up your college career so far, in one word, what would it be? Why?

KM: “Revolutionary! Google defines revolutionary as involving or causing a complete or dramatic change. I think that Georgia State was revolutionary for me. Georgia State is revolutionary as a whole. That evolution that I talked about earlier is key here. You definitely don’t leave the same person, as you were when you first arrived. In that time span of 4 years, you’ve been revolutionary yourself because you’ve made such a dramatic change.”

HC: What is one thing you cannot live without?

KM: “Definitely my phone!”

Quick Answer

Favorite Artist: Chris Brown

Favorite Movie(s): The entire Fast and Furious series

Guilty Pleasure: I love musicals, especially High School Musical (I have the songs on my Spotify)

Celebrity Crush(es): Michael B. Jordan and James Bland

Khaja Mapp’16

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